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Houston police believe body found in Jasper is Samuel Olson; father's girlfriend in custody

By FOX 26 Staff
Updated  June 2, 2021 8:38pm EDT
Texas
FOX 26 Houston

Timeline leading up to Theresa Balboa's arrest

FOX 26 Reporter Maria Salazar breaks down the timeline that led to the arrest of Theresa Balboa after a body believed to be 6-year-old Samuel Olson was found in a Jasper motel room.

JASPER, Texas - Police say a body found in a motel room in Jasper is believed to be that of 6-year-old Samuel Olson, who was reported missing in Houston.

A charge of tampering with evidence was accepted against Theresa Balboa, Samuel's father's girlfriend, police say.

HPD Press conference on possible suspect arrest in case of missing 6-year-old Samuel Olson.

Assistant Chief of Houston Police Department's Criminal Investigations Command Unit, Heather Morris gives an update on a suspect arrest in the case of missing 6-year-old Samuel Olson.

According to police, Samuel was reported missing on the evening of May 27. Officers responded to a residence in southwest Houston and met with Samuel’s father and Balboa.

theresa and samuel

Samuel Olson (left); Theresa Balboa (Photo: Jasper County Sheriff's Office)

Police say Balboa reported that she was at the residence around 7:30 a.m. that day when she saw Samuel’s mother with an unknown officer at the front of the residence. Balboa reportedly told police that the officer stated she would go to jail for kidnapping if she did not return Samuel to the mother.

RELATED: Police calling the investigation into the disappearance of a 6-year-old boy complicated

Police say the father stated that once he heard this story, he contacted Samuel’s mother, who said that Samuel was not with her.

Missing Persons investigators made contact with Samuel’s mother. Police say investigators were provided with evidence that Samuel’s mother was at her residence throughout the entire morning of May 27. 

Father's girlfriend facing charge after body believed to be missing boy found in Jasper

Police say a body believed to a missing Houston boy was found in a Jasper motel room, and his father's girlfriend is facing a charge of tampering with evidence.

Investigators continued to follow up on the case, including conducting interviews with the parents and Balboa.

According to HPD, investigators discovered inconsistencies in Balboa’s statements.

On Tuesday, Houston investigators were contacted by the Jasper Police Department. Jasper police said they received an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip that led officers to a motel.

Police say officers made contact with Balboa at the motel and eventually discovered the body of a young child. Balboa was taken into custody.

Police believe the child that was found dead in the motel room is Samuel, but the medical examiner needs to make the determination.

The investigation remains active, and the police department says more charges could be filed at a later time if appropriate.

Texas